The Region

Undercover vice officers arrested 55 suspected prostitutes, including men, women and transvestites, in an overnight sweep of Santa Monica Boulevard between La Brea and Western avenues in Los Angeles, police said. Investigators posed as potential customers in a task force operation speeded up by the addition of more officers to help book suspects. About 20 arrests normally are made during a similar operation on one night, Police Sgt. Ken Lady said.